Articles for author: Sameen David

Sameen David

Dams, drains and other artificial habitats could buy time for threatened mussels: Study

Farm Dams and Drainage Canals Offer Refuge to Australia’s Endangered Mussels

South-western Australia — Freshwater mussels perform essential roles in aquatic ecosystems, filtering vast amounts of water daily and signaling environmental health. Populations of Carter’s freshwater mussel, a vulnerable species unique to the region, have dwindled over the past 50 years due to habitat destruction, salinization, and drying rivers. Researchers recently demonstrated that artificial water bodies, ...

Sameen David

By protecting tigers ‘we save so much more,’ says Debbie Banks

Tiger Recoveries in Asia Herald Broader Ecosystem Wins

In the lush forests spanning Bhutan, Nepal, and India, tiger numbers have climbed steadily in recent years, offering a glimmer of hope for one of the world’s most iconic predators. Conservationists hailed these gains as part of a global estimate reaching about 5,574 wild tigers in 2022, though the species vanished from 95 percent of ...

Hidden in Plain Sight: America's Most Incredible Dinosaur Discoveries

Hidden in Plain Sight: America’s Most Incredible Dinosaur Discoveries

America has always held its secrets in the dirt. Beneath parking lots, under National Park trails, inside eroding badlands cliffs, and even below the foundations of old armouries, some of the most breathtaking dinosaur discoveries in scientific history have quietly been waiting. You probably walk past history like this more often than you realize. What ...

Sameen David

5 Cool Facts about Giant Pandas for National Panda Day

National Panda Day: 5 Captivating Facts About Giant Pandas

National Panda Day, observed annually on March 16, spotlights the giant panda’s charm and vulnerabilities. These iconic bears draw global affection through their distinctive black-and-white markings and clumsy antics. The recent celebration on March 16, 2026, offered a perfect occasion to explore lesser-known aspects of their biology and behavior, as highlighted by wildlife experts. Pandas’ ...

Sameen David

Pharmaceutical companies move away from horseshoe crab biomedical testing

Drug Makers Accelerate Shift Away from Horseshoe Crab Blood Harvesting

Horseshoe crabs have endured on Earth for more than 450 million years, outlasting countless environmental upheavals long before dinosaurs appeared. These ancient mariners now face a modern threat from their unique blue blood, harvested extensively for pharmaceutical safety testing. Major drug companies have begun transitioning to synthetic alternatives, offering potential relief for declining populations along ...

Sameen David

Nepal’s rural women at increasing risk of human-wildlife conflict

Bardiya’s Women Walk a Deadly Line: Wildlife Conflicts Intensify Amid Conservation Gains

Bardiya, Nepal – Tensions boiled over on February 6 when crowds gathered outside the Bardiya District Administration Office, their chants demanding justice after back-to-back leopard attacks claimed two lives the day before. Women from nearby forest-edge villages led the charge, highlighting a grim reality where Nepal’s celebrated tiger recovery collides with everyday survival needs. Labor ...

Sameen David

Whales may gain inherent rights

New Zealand Bill Seeks Historic Legal Personhood for Whales

New Zealand – Lawmakers introduced the Tohorā Oranga Bill in Parliament, marking a potential shift in how the nation views its ocean giants. The legislation proposes recognizing whales, known as tohorā in Māori, as legal persons with inherent rights. This move builds on a 2024 indigenous declaration and reflects growing calls for stronger marine protections. ...